Side ported casing apparatus for cementing wells



T. M. RAGAN 2,569,732

SIDE PQRTED CASINGAPPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Oct. 2, 1951 Filed Feb.24, 1947 Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES slDEPoRTEU oAsING APPARATUSFOR CEMENTING WELLS.:

Thomas M, Ragan, Downey, Calif),,assignert.A

Baker Oil Tools, Inc.

tion of California.`

Application February' 24, 1947, Serial Nm` 730l311i.

(Cl. 166,1-1)l 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to well cementing apparatus, and moreparticularly` to apparatusdesi'gned t0 form part of a casing or similarconduit string positionable in a well bore and' having: side portsadapted to be opened and closed bymanipulation of the conduit string.`

An objectof the invention is to provide sideacasing string whose portscan beopened and closed simply by rotary non-longitudinal movement ofthecasing string without the necessity for rotating or i otherwisemoving. that i portion ofthe casing string. located` below theapparatus.

Afurther object of'the invention isito provide side portedwell casingapparatus embodying Aelements forv opening and closing the portsiwhichalso function to center the apparatus fandicasingof which it forms apartin a well bore.

This invention has l`other objects and aspects which will becomeapparent from a considerationf-of the embodiment shown inthe drawingsaccompanying andforming part of the present specification. This-formwill now be described @in detail, but it is to be understoodfthat suchvdetailed description is not to -be taken in a limited sense, since thescope of the inventionis best defined by the claims appended hereto.

` Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 isy a longitudinal View, partly in section and partly inelevation, disclosing the apparatus located in a well bore, with itsside portseclosed.

Fig. 2 is a `partial longitudinal section similar-` to Fig. 1,illustrating the parts of the apparatus in their relative position,opening the side ports ofthe apparatus.

Fig. 3is a .cross-section taken along the-line 3-3 inFig. 2.

The apparatus exemplifying the invention Ain the drawings is a collar Aadapted to connect upper and lower casing sections B, C of a casingstring in longitudinal spaced relation. The collar proper may beconnected directly to the lower casing-section Corindirectly toit-through the medium of a tubular. swivel D.;

The ,A collar.` includes upper end oiantinnerrtubular memberI5'jp`osi'-` tioned within-v an` internal groove IBjdfined byj andbetween thebox end` I3 of the outerm'em'- ber I3 and a sleeve I1mountedon'the" inner member i and; adapted-ta engage `the lower end .'ofthe head;r I4; This .sleeve I1 is.tlfireadedintothe` lower. engl.`ofthe. outer.member` I3andis preventedjf'ifr'omf u1ithreading.1 from thelatter" byj means :ofi w,eldi'ng...materialiA I8"orf the like.

Leakage,betweenetleLinnerrand outer` members I5,I 3,isfprevented byapluralityof seal rings I SI in the` formloimoundfrubber seals,engagingithei interiorl of l theAA outerA member? I3" andI carried'within peripheralringgrooves 2l),` in the innery member-.head1 4.n Itisapparent that the body. I III mai/be rotated without correspondinglyrotating the inner--member` lfanddciwer` casing string. attached1thereto, in viwof; the swivel connection Djust described.-

Thebody III h'asfa sleeve 2II threaded to itjby means.. of.. an.external4 thread.y 22.5011" the body engaging an internal thread`-2(3onAV the sleeve.: These threads 2'2," 23 areipreferablyV righthandthreads, l although le'fthandV threads. could be-.employed iffdesired..Thefsleeve'l 'extendsjdownwardiy .from` the .threadedlconnectin and` is,.provided wahl a iwer heaiztadapted mbe disposedover,Y inner portsllfinthe body. When the sleeve is` so.dispo`sed,- tliieinnerY ports areclosed against passage of iiiiidsbetween theinterior and exterior. of?thefapparatusyleakage ofjfl'uids .there- Lii tllrouglrbeingA prevented`by. engagement ofa tapered. surface, 2,6 "on thelieadfZI "with a` comepanion taperedvalve.` seat 2,'I on the body. In above the 1. inner porft` 25.- As .a precautionary measure, an annular-seal ring 28f`may.belmountl ed in the upper end 'of 'the l head 24` for engage".-mentvviththegtapered vjalvegseat 2,1.'

l Leakage; in ,a 1 downward direction between.. the head'fZlI ,and .bodyIll'fisifprevented by one ormore suitablesside-seals `292in.- the headslidably engage ing. the 4exteriorofthei body |10; suoli-sidey sealsmay-be constitutedby round-rubber-rings,2`9carriedA within`,internalgrooves,k 3 0- in tlievlowerA pore tion-vof. theiheadv.;

a..tubi11ar body I 0 Whose upper piny endfltlis,I threadedinto theupper' casing .Section5 andl whose, lower pinA en dy I Zis;threaded-into an outer-.tubular membrll'ofthei swivel D whiclials'oinc1ds=aihead`I4"on`thej The sleeve 2| is adapted for longitudinalmovement along the body l0, upon rotation of the body in response torotation of the casing string attached to its upper end, in order tomove the sleeve between its port opening and closing positions. Frictionmeans are secured to the sleeve 2|, which are adapted to engage the wallof the well bore to resist movement of the sleeve, so that rotarymovement of the body I6 and upper casing string may produce longitudinalmovement in a downward direction of the sleeve to open the inner portsand place circumferentially arranged outer ports 3| in the sleevesubstantially in alignment therewith to permit passage of fluids throughthe ports 25, 3| between the interior and exterior of the apparatus. v

Although any suitable device may be employed in resisting movement ofythesleevathe arrangement disclosed in the drawings consists of upper 1and lower collars 32, 33 rotatable on the body |D and havingcircumferentially spaced longitudinally extending grooves of outwardlybowed friction springs 36 are received. These ends have tending intopockets 38 in each collar, the ends of the springs and their hooks beingprevented from moving out of the grooves 34 and pockets 38 by aretaining sleeve 39 Aencompassing each collar -32, 33 and spring members35. Each sleeve 39 may be integrated to its collar by a plurality ofplug welds 40 securing them together. The retaining'sleeve 3S for thelower collar 33 may be integral with and extend upwardly from the portedvalve sleeve 2|.

The sleeve 2| and friction spring assembly 32, 33, 36 is mounted on thebody ||1 with the sleeve 2|threaded upwardly along the body to itslowest extent, in which position the tapered seats 26, 21 abut on theupper side ofthe inner ports 25 to prevent passage of iiuids through theports in conjunction with the seals Z8, 29 in the sleeve head 24. Theapparatus is made up in the casing string and may include vthe swivelconnection D below the body l0. As such, the casing string, with theapparatus included as a component part thereof, is run in the well boreto the desired location. In the event that it is desired to perform alower` cement job through thecasing, circulating fluids and then cementslurry may be pumped down through the collar A, whose ports 25 areclosed, for discharge from the casing string at some'location below thecollar, as, for example, through a casing shoe (not shown) Afterv thedesired quantity of cement fslurry has been ejected from the shoe, thecollar ports 25 may be opened by rotating the casing string to the left.Since the outwardly bowed springs 36 are engaging the formation wall ofthe well bore, rotation of the lsleeve valve 2| is resisted and lefthandrotation of the casing string and body I6 results in longitudinalfeeding of the sleeve valve 2| downwardly to a position in which itstapered surface 26 is disposed below the inner ports 25 to allow fluidsto pass from the interior of the body through the inner and outer ports25, 3| to the exterior of the body. Downward movement of the sleeve 2 |Valong the body is limited by engagement of the lowereollar 33 with ashoulder 4| on the body at the upper end of `its external threads 22. Asecond charge of cement slurry may be pumped directly into the casingstring for ejection through the open ports 25, 3| and for upward passagearound the Vcollar A and casing string. Following discharge of therequired amount of cement slurry, the casing string-is rohook portions31 ex- 34 in whichthe'ends35 tated to the right, which produces upwardthreading of the sleeve 2| along the body I0 until the seats 26, 21 onthe head 24 and body l0 reengage, which locates the head 24 across theinner ports 25 to close them against passage of fluids in both inwardand outward lateral directions.

When the swivel D is employed below the body l0, rotation of the casingstring above the collar A and the body can take place without rotatingthe casing string positioned below the collar. Such provision of theswivel prevents agitation or disturbance of the cementitious materialdeposited around the lower portion of the casing string. However, in theevent that no cement is to be discharged from the casing string belowthe collar, the swivel may be omitted and the lower pin end l2 of thebody threaded directly into the lower casing section C. With theapparatus arranged in the manner just described, the casing stringthroughout its entire length is rotated to produce downward and upwardfeed- `.ing of the sleeve 2| with respect to the body |0,

and thereby open and close the inner ports 25.

It is, therefore, apparent that an apparatus has been provided in whichlongitudinal movement of the casing string is unnecessary in obtainingopening and closing of the side ports 25. Similarly, if the lowerportion of the casing string is not to be rotated, the swivel D may beincorporated in the apparatus and the ports 25 opened and closed merelythrough rotation of the upper portion of the casing string without anymovement whatsoever being imparted to the lower casing sections. It isfurther to be noted that the threading of the sleeve 2| on the body Il]provides a positive means precluding inadvertent longitudinal shiftingof the sleeve along the body prior to intentional opening of the ports.the drag springs 36 not only resist rotation of the valve sleeve 2|, butalso serve as a casing centralizer for centering theapparatus and casingstring in the well bore to insure the deposition of a uniform body ofcement therearound.

The arrangement described is simple and has a comparatively smalloutside diameter, which is very little more than the outside diameter ofthe usual couplings in the casing string connecting adjacent casingsections together. The internal diameter of the body l0 through theapparatus is substantially the same as, and preferably no less than, theinternal diameter of the casing sections comprising the casing string.The lack of restrictions permits cementing plugs and other apparatus tobe moved through the collar A with the same facility as they are movedthrough the casing sections themselves.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a Well'bore,said body having a lateral port, a sleeve threaded on said body Vandmovable therealong to positions opening and closing said port, a casingcentralizer secured to said sleeve for resisting rotation of saidsleeve, said centralizer comprising outwardly bowed springs engageablewith the wall of the well bore, whereby rotation of said casing stringfrom the top of said well bore rotates said body and effectslongitudinal threading movement of said sleeve along said body toselectively open or close said port, and a tubular swivel connected tothe lower end of said body.

Y2. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubularbody-adapted to form part of Moreover,

a casing string Wpositionable in Va well bore, said body having'alateralport and a valve seat above :.eaid sport, a :sleeve :threaded.on :said fbody sabcve said seat and having a headadaptedto engage saidseat when `disposed over said port to close the same, l and `friction*means secured to said sleeve ,and engageable with ,the wall ofythe wellshore. for `resisting `rotation of Isaid sleeve, `,wlfierefb. :rotationofsaid .casing .string-from @theftoptof said well bore rotates `saidbody relative Lto said sleeve and effects.loneitudinalimovement,of Saidsleeve and head into or out of engagement with said valve seat toselectively open or close said port.

3. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore,said body having a lateral port and a valve seat above said port, asleeve threaded on said body above said seat and having a head adaptedto engage said seat when disposed over said port to close the same, anda casing centralizer secured to said sleeve, said centralizer comprisingoutwardly bowed springs engageable with the wall of the well bore forresisting rotation of said sleeve, whereby rotation of said casingstring from the top of said well bore rotates said body relative to saidsleeve and effects longitudinal threading movement of said sleeve andits head into or out Vof engagement with said valve seat to selectivelyopen or close said port.

4. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore, atubular swivel connected to the lower end of said body, said body havinga lateral port, a sleeve threaded on said body and adapted to close saidport, and friction means engageable with the wall of a well bore inwhich said apparatus is located for resisting rotation of said sleeve,wherei.

by rotation of said casing string from the top of said well bore rotatessaid body and effects longitudinal movement of said sleeve along saidbody to selectively open or close said port.

5. Apparatus as dened in claim 3, including a tubular swivel connectedto the lower end of said body.

6. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore,said body having a lateral port and a valve seat above said port, asleeve surrounding said body over the body port and having a headadapted to engage said seat when disposed over said port to close thesame, means on said body above said port providing a threaded connectionbetween said Sleeve and body, said sleeve having iiuid passage meanscommunicable Vwith said port when the sleeve head is spaced from saidseat, and means secured to said sleeve and engageable with the wall ofthe well bore for resisting rotation of said sleeve, whereby rotation ofsaid casing string from the top of said well bore rotates said bodyrelative to said sleeve and effects longitudinal movement of said sleeveand head into and out of engagement with said valve seat to selectivelyopen or close said body port.

7, Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore,said body having a lateral port and a valve seat above said port, asleeve threaded on and surrounding said body over said body port andhaving a head adapted to engage said seat when disposed over said portto close the same, said sleeve having a port fcommunicable with .saidtbody iporitevelieny said vhead .is disposed fbelow said ibody `port,`land means `secured to said .sleeve Vand y.engageabie `with the vwallof the `wellubore .for resisting frota- .tion of .said sleeve,wherebyrotation `of fsaidvcasling .string from `the top .i of -.said lwell Abore rotates said body relative to said sleeve `zandfeifects:lonlgitudinal movement lof said sleeve Aand -liea'diinto `.and outof:engagement with said-:valve seatiatn selectively open or close l saidbody port.

8. Apparatus .of the character described, dncluding a tubularllbodyadapted to form part oia casing string positionable in a wellbore, said body having a lateral port and a valve seat to one side ofsaid port, a sleeve threaded on and surrounding said body over said bodyport and having a head adapted to engage said seat when disposed oversaid port to close the same, said sleeve having a port communicable withsaid body port when said head is disposed on the other side of said bodyport from said valve seat, and means secured to said sleeve andengageable with the wall of the well bore for resisting rotation of saidsleeve, whereby rotation of said casing string from the top of said wellbore rotates said body relative to said sleeve and effects longitudinalmovement of said sleeve and head into and out of engagement with saidvalve seat to selectively open or close said body port.

9. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore,said body having a lateral port and a valve seat to one side of saidport, a sleeve threaded on and surrounding said body over said body portand having a head adapted to engage said seat when disposed over saidport to close the same, said sleeve having a port communicable with saidbody port when said head is disposed on the other side of said body portfrom said valve seat, and a casing centralizer secured to said sleeveand engageable with the wall of the well bore for resisting rotation ofsaid sleeve, whereby rotation of said casing string from the top of saidwell bore rotates said body relative to said sleeve and effectslongitudinal movement of said sleeve and head into and out of engagementwith said valve seat to selectively open or close said body port.

10. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore,said body having a lateral port and a valve seat to one side of saidport, a sleeve threaded on and surrounding said body on said one side ofsaid port and surrounding said seat, said sleeve having a head adaptedto engage said seat when disposed over said port to close the same. saidsleeve having fluid passage means communicable with said port when thesleeve head is spaced from said seat and .disposed on the other side ofsaid port, and means secured to said sleeve and engageable with the Wallof the well bore for resisting rotation of said sleeve, whereby rotationof said casing string from the top of said well bore rotates said bodyrelative to said sleeve and effects longitudinal movement of said sleeveand head into or out of engagement with said valve seat to selectivelyopen or close said port.

1l. Apparatus of the character described, including a tubular bodyadapted to form part of a casing string positionable in a well bore,said body having a lateral port, a sleeve threaded on said body abovesaid port and movable along said body to positions opening and closingsaid port, a tubular swivel connected to the lower end :assenso 7E 8.fof said bodyv and 'adapted for connection to a i' f A'. llower'casin'gstring, and a 'casing' centralizer 'se- REFERENCES CITED a :cured tosaidsleeve for resisting rotation of said The fouowmg references are ofrecord' inf; the

sleeve', said eentralizer comprising outwardly me of this patent; bowedsprings engageable with the wall of the 5 well bore, whereby rotation ofsaid casing string UNITED STATES PATENTS `from the top of said wall borerotates said body Number' Name Date- -and eifects longitudinal threadingmovement of 2,037,896 Haines Apr 21 19% Said Sleeve along said body toselectively open 2,300,438 Spang N0V 3 1942 0r close Said port, withoutrotating the lower por- 10 2,345,883 Scott Alm 41 1944 THOMAS M. RAGAN.

tion of the casing string secured to the swivel. 2,360,311 Ausbum et aLVom. 17' 1944

